Seeded Gravel Question.

I have been cycling my tank for just shy of a month now. My tank is finally getting the ammonia down to zero and eating all the ammonia really quickly. I've had readings along these lines for a week and a half now.

My readings currently are as follows:

Amm - 0
Nitrite - 2
Nitrate 10/20 (hard to tell with the card)

The nitrate is sort of doing nothing at this point. Just sitting there watching Nitrite thinking, "Do I wanna eat that? Nah!"

My ex has offered to give me a cup of seeded gravel from his tank. I am wondering if that will make a difference in getting this cycle finished at this point. My understanding is that seeded gravel is to introduce Nitrate into the cycle. I already have that, and am playing the waiting game at this point for it to just start doing its job.

Yeah. I have that covered. Thank you though. The ammonia is gone within 24 hours. The nitrite is doing its job really well. Just the nitrate isn't doing anything but hanging out staring saying, "Hmm...now what!?"

Yeah. I have that covered. Thank you though. The ammonia is gone within 24 hours. The nitrite is doing its job really well. Just the nitrate isn't doing anything but hanging out staring saying, "Hmm...now what!?"

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Fantastic. I am sorry, I shouldn't have assumed.

I guess in my defense I have found a lot of folks don't know and end up stalling their cycle. I didn't want that to happen to you too.

I guess in my defense I have found a lot of folks don't know and end up stalling their cycle. I didn't want that to happen to you too.

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No, no! You're all good. It is better to say something than not.

I'm just trying to continue to be patient for the Nitrate to do what needs done. I guess I sort of figured once it showed up in a good number it would just be like POOF...nitrite gone. That isn't how it goes at all apparently. It will be nice to have this cycled so I can actually enjoy the tank rather than find it a little stressful.

I'm just trying to continue to be patient for the Nitrate to do what needs done. I guess I sort of figured once it showed up in a good number it would just be like POOF...nitrite gone. That isn't how it goes at all apparently. It will be nice to have this cycled so I can actually enjoy the tank rather than find it a little stressful.

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Thank you for understanding

Those nitrites can be stubborn little guys. They can be off the chart one day and then like magic, they will go poof.

Mine went from at the bottom of the chart to beautiful sky blue. It didn't make any stops along the way. When I first saw them they had gone from none to off the chart over night. At that point I was doing a 30% water change every day. On the 5th day they dropped to zero and have been there ever since then.

The main ingredient necessary while cycling a tank is patience and lots of it.